Best Fit Lines and Curves, and Some Mathe-Magical Transformations (Volume III of the Working Guides to Estimating & Forecasting series) concentrates on techniques for finding the Best Fit Line or Curve to some historical data allowing us to interpolate or extrapolate the implied relationship that will underpin our prediction. A range of simple ‘Moving Measures’ are suggested to smooth the underlying trend and quantify the degree of noise or scatter around that trend. The advantages and disadvantages are discussed and a simple way to offset the latent disadvantage of most Moving Measure Techniques is provided. Simple Linear Regression Analysis, a more formal numerical technique that calculates the line of best fit subject to defined ‘goodness of fit’ criteria. Microsoft Excel is used to demonstrate how to decide whether the line of best fit is a good fit, or just a solution in search of some data. These principles are then extended to cover multiple cost drivers, and how we can use them to quantify 3-Point Estimates. With a deft sleight of hand, certain commonly occurring families of non-linear relationships can be transformed mathe-magically into linear formats, allowing us to exploit the powers of Regression Analysis to find the Best Fit Curves. The concludes with an exploration of the ups and downs of seasonal data (Time Series Analysis). Supported by a wealth of figures and tables, this is a valuable resource for estimators, engineers, accountants, project risk specialists as well as students of cost engineering.

This unique book and computer disk package will help researchers, instructors, and students in pharmacy, medicinal chemistry, biochemistry, or other biomedical sciences reach a deeper understanding of the more advanced chemical and physicochemical processes as they relate to drug action, drug discovery, and biomedical science in general. Mathematica software permits rapid numerical, symbolic, and graphic calculations that allow complex concepts to be displayed, animated, and discussed in the same document. In "Advanced Tutorials for the Biomedical Sciences," Mathematica is used as a tool to display, animate, and calculate various physical phenomena: No programming by the instructor or the reader is needed to activate these functions. The Tutorials are "interactive" in that the user not only enters but may also change the values of parameters within the code in order to better understand difficult concepts. The computer disk will continue to serve the researcher as a computational "toolbox" for the common calculations needed to perform a variety of chromatographic and spectroscopic analyses. While the Mathematica software is needed to run the Tutorials, it can be applied to any number of additional mathematical or scientific applications.

An overview of statistical methods for analyzing data from fMRI experiments. Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), which allows researchers to observe neural activity in the human brain noninvasively, has revolutionized the scientific study of the mind. An fMRI experiment produces massive amounts of highly complex data; researchers face significant challenges in analyzing the data they collect. This book offers an overview of the most widely used statistical methods of analyzing fMRI data. Every step is covered, from preprocessing to advanced methods for assessing functional connectivity. The goal is not to describe which buttons to push in the popular software packages but to help readers understand the basic underlying logic, the assumptions, the strengths and weaknesses, and the appropriateness of each method. The book covers all of the important current topics in fMRI data analysis, including the relation of the fMRI BOLD (blood oxygen-level dependent) response to neural activation; basic analyses done in virtually every fMRI article—preprocessing, constructing statistical parametrical maps using the general linear model, solving the multiple comparison problem, and group analyses; the most popular methods for assessing functional connectivity—coherence analysis and Granger causality; two widely used multivariate approaches, principal components analysis and independent component analysis; and a brief survey of other current fMRI methods. The necessary mathematics is explained at a conceptual level, but in enough detail to allow mathematically sophisticated readers to gain more than a purely conceptual understanding. The book also includes short examples of Matlab code that implement many of the methods described; an appendix offers an introduction to basic Matlab matrix algebra commands (as well as a tutorial on matrix algebra). A second appendix introduces multivariate probability distributions.

ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY Detailed reference covering all aspects of working in laboratories, including safety, fundamentals of analytical techniques, lab instrumentation, and more A comprehensive study of analytical chemistry as it pertains to the laboratory analyst and chemist, Analytical Chemistry begins with an introduction to the laboratory environment, including safety, glassware, common apparatuses, and lab basics, and continues on to guide readers through the fundamentals of analytical techniques, such as spectroscopy and chromatography, and introduce examples of laboratory programs, such as Laboratory Information Management Systems (LIMS). This newly updated and revised Second Edition of Analytical Chemistry offers expanded chapters with new figures and the latest developments in the field. Included alongside this new edition is an updated companion teaching, reference, and toolkit program called ChemTech. Conveniently available via either app or browser, the ChemTech program contains exercises that highlight and review topics covered in the book and features useful calculators and programs, including solution makers, graphing tools, and more. To aid in reader comprehension, the program also includes an interactive periodic table and chapter summaries. Written by two highly qualified authors with significant experience in both practice and academia, Analytical Chemistry covers sample topics such as: Basic mathematics in the laboratory, including different units, the metric system, significant figures, scientific calculators, and ChemTech conversion tools Analytical data treatment, including errors in the laboratory, precision versus accuracy, normal distribution curves, and determining errors in methodology Plotting and graphing, including graph construction, curve fitting, graphs of specific equations, least-squares method, and computer-generated curves Ultraviolet/visible (UV/Vis) spectroscopy, including wave and particle theory of light, light absorption transitions, the color wheel, and pigments With complete coverage of the practical aspects of analytical chemistry, Analytical Chemistry prepares students for a rewarding career as a chemist or a laboratory technician. Thanks to ChemTech integration, the book is also a useful and accessible reference for the established chemist or technician already working in the laboratory.

The controversial book linking intelligence to class and race in modern society, and what public policy can do to mitigate socioeconomic differences in IQ, birth rate, crime, fertility, welfare, and poverty.

The only comprehensive reference and tutorial for Civil 3D 2011 Civil 3D is Autodesk’s popular, robust civil engineering software, and this fully updated guide is the only one endorsed by Autodesk to help students prepare for certification exams. Packed with expert tips, tricks, techniques, and tutorials, this book covers every aspect of Civil 3D 2011, the preferred software package for designing roads, highways, subdivisions, drainage and sewer systems, and other large-scale civic projects. This is the official, Autodesk-endorsed guide to Civil 3D, the leading software for designing large-scale civic systems such as highways, subdivisions, and sewer systems Covers all the key concepts, the software interface, and best methods for creating, editing, displaying, and labeling all elements of a civic engineering project Features in-depth, detailed coverage of surveying, points, alignments, surfaces, profiles, corridors, grading, LandXML and LDT Project Transfer, cross sections, pipe networks, visualization, sheets, and project management Includes what students need to pass the Civil 3D 2011 Certified Associate and Certified Professional exams Mastering AutoCAD Civil 3D 2011 is a complete course in the real-world application of Civil 3D as well as the ultimate study guide for certification.

Analytical chemistry today is almost entirely instrumental analytical chemistry and it is performed by many scientists and engineers who are not chemists. Analytical instrumentation is crucial to research in molecular biology, medicine, geology, food science, materials science, and many other fields. With the growing sophistication of laboratory equipment, there is a danger that analytical instruments can be regarded as "black boxes" by those using them. The well-known phrase "garbage in, garbage out" holds true for analytical instrumentation as well as computers. This book serves to provide users of analytical instrumentation with an understanding of their instruments. This book is written to teach undergraduate students and those working in chemical fields outside analytical chemistry how contemporary analytical instrumentation works, as well as its uses and limitations. Mathematics is kept to a minimum. No background in calculus, physics, or physical chemistry is required. The major fields of modern instrumentation are covered, including applications of each type of instrumental technique. Each chapter includes: A discussion of the fundamental principles underlying each technique Detailed descriptions of the instrumentation. An extensive and up to date bibliography End of chapter problems Suggested experiments appropriate to the technique where relevant This text uniquely combines instrumental analysis with organic spectral interpretation (IR, NMR, and MS). It provides detailed coverage of sampling, sample handling, sample storage, and sample preparation. In addition, the authors have included many instrument manufacturers’ websites, which contain extensive resources.